For Those Who Went From Paper Logs to Electronic

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Raiderfanatic, Jul 7, 2012.

  1. T...Street

    T...Street Light Load Member

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    Aug 19, 2012
    randolph co. NC
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    I suppose you're correct...But if you spent more time doing your job instead of spending your precious time on the computer arguing about how you can't get all you need done in 14 hours..you would have time to get it done. I can go at it all day long my friend...remember I'M RETIRED....
     
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  3. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    More assumptions on your part.

    I am waiting for my trailer to load in Denver. It did not bother me to call my broker and express my concern to him that bad weather is approaching with 50,60 mph winds. Especially with a light load.

    It's called communication.

    Otherwise, I have been doing little projects on my long list of things that never end.

    Technically speaking, should all that time washing the truck, the windows, tightening belts been logged as on-duty time?

    I'm betting the DOT would say yes.
     
  4. T...Street

    T...Street Light Load Member

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    Aug 19, 2012
    randolph co. NC
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    Good , glad to see you aren't bored. I have to let you off the hook for the rest of the day...deer season is in here in NC and I'm going to go and bait some stands for my hunting partner and myself. Muzzle-loading season is just around the corner ( opening the 27th ) can't hardly wait. I enjoyed our discussion...If the weather turns bad drive safe to your next destination!
     
  5. BigJim1937

    BigJim1937 Medium Load Member

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    Mar 27, 2012
    Fargo,ND
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    Im with you MN dont need another piece of electronic crap in my truck I run paper. You can run paper logs just as proper as those darn electronic gadgets. Just another piece of junk someone came up with to make money off the trucking industry. Added weight that I dont need and another thing hooked into my truck that I dont want. No thanks I go back full time oilfield before I will allow anyone to force that junk on me.
     
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  6. k7tkr

    k7tkr Medium Load Member

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    Apr 13, 2010
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    @ T

    With due respect.....

    The simple fact is that the combination of the current HOS regs and E-Logs are putting trucking companies into a tough situation. Drivers- myself included- are finding ourselves out of hours with no where to park to reset those hours or, not having the hours to make the next drop etc. The bottom issue is that the current HOS are highly inflexible. The E-Logs merely enforce that inflexibility. The 14 hour clock that replaced the old 15 hour clock does not stop once the driver begins his or her day. Under the old rules a driver could nap, eat, load- whatever and the 15 hour clock would stop once the driver went into an off duty ( or sleeper) status. That is not the case now. So frequently we end up burning hours or out of hours. Most customers it seems either do not have overnight parking or refuse it (using "overnight" for extended stay parking) for whatever reason. So we cannot reset once we're done doing whatever it is we're doing. My company, fortunately has a line five- off duty driving (30 min per 24hours) that can be used in an emergency but if parking is beyond that........

    I have now driven under both this set and the old set of rules and now using E-logs. The frustration you hear here is real and not without justification. And it is the rules that must change and that lays with the FMCSA, not the customers. Both us and the customers need to come together on this and mandate changes. Otherwise, things are going to continue to slide downhill like a rocket sled on greased rails.

    Mark
     
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  7. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    Thanks T good luck too.


    For the rest.

    I got up at 7 am today. Pulled my dipstick, washed my windows and went in for breakfast. During breakfast I called my broker and discussed when the load would be ready and weather concerns.

    Load won't be ready till after 3 pm my time.

    When does my 14 start?

    Trailer is 12 miles away from me.

    When does my 11 start?
     
  8. ghf

    ghf Bobtail Member

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    Oct 2, 2012
    Seattle, WA
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    If a driver is operating exactly per the HOS, there is no differnce between paper or Elogs. The problem is the HOS. HOS are one size fits all; and one size fits all - doesn't! The great majority of drivers; except for some dedicated night LTL runs, etc...; are on a day schedule sleep cycle.

    Take three differnt drivers, all rested over the weekend, all leaving LA Monday morning for somewhere.

    Bob leaves his terminal @ 7AM, has to stop @ 6PM and take 10. Who can sleep at 6PM? Bob gets up @ 4AM and drives 'till 3PM, up at 1AM to drive again.
    Pete get to the terminal @ 7AM, spends 3 hours loading his wagon and leaves @ 10AM. He shuts down @ 9PM, he could probably sleep then, but he's on the road 3 hours later than Bob, but is still legal.
    Oswald the outlaw O/O leaves the yard @ 7AM, run until 10 or 11PM, and sleeps 'till he naturally wakes up the next morning, runs again until he's tired that night.

    Multiply these schedules over 5 days and pick the the truck you want to meet coming at you on a two lane road.

    IMO Elogs do nothing but force drivers into completely unnatural and unsafe sleep patterns.
     
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  9. k7tkr

    k7tkr Medium Load Member

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    @MNdriver-

    No. The E-Log just enforces the HOS regulations. It is the regs that are forcing us into unatural acts if you will. Apply the ELog with the old rules and you would have an entirely different outcome.

    Mark
     
  10. k7tkr

    k7tkr Medium Load Member

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    Apr 13, 2010
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    Mistake.... the last post was directed to ghf
     
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  11. NavigatorWife

    NavigatorWife Road Train Member

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    Apr 30, 2012
    Cental West, AL
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    When I was riding with my husband in the past, before elogs, whenever the truck stopped at the end of the 14 hrs was when we would sleep. It may have been at odd times for the most of the world, but you do what you have to do to get sleep.

    Elogs is harder I think on a person who is driving solo vs team driving because of the time constraints limiting how you can run the load. Perhaps they should have a little more flexibility built in as long as you are not driving 11+ hours.
     
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